Kristian Benedikt, Asmik Grigorian & Francesca Sassu Highlight Lithuanian National Opera’s 2020-21 Season

The Lithuanian National Opera has announced its 2020-21 season. Here is a look at the operas and operettas for the upcoming season. Opera Donizetti’s “Anna Bolena“ opens the season with Sesto Quatrini and Ričardas Šumila conducting. Francesca Sassu and Joana Gedmintaitė headline the cast in the title role, with Raffaella Lupinacci, Justina Gringytė, and Eglė Šidlauskaitė as Giovanna, Tadas Girininkas {…}

Jun 9, 2020

Anna Netrebko, Asmik Grigorian & Cecilia Bartoli Highlight Revised Salzburg Festival Season

(Image Source / Credit: Askonas Holt / Dario Acosta / Cecilia Bartoli Official Website) The Salzburg Festival has announced its revised edition. Here is a look at the vocal performances. Opera Franz Welser-Möst Conducts R. Strauss’ “Elektra“ in a production by Krzysztof Warlikowski. The production stars Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, Aušrine Stundyte, Asmik Grigorian, Michael Laurenz Aegisth, and Derek Welton. Performance Dates: August 1- {…}

Jun 2, 2020

Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Sondra Radvanovsky, Michael Fabiano, Lead Teatro Real’s 2020-21 Season

The Teatro Real de Madrid has announced the 2020-21 season featuring premieres, new productions and some of the greatest stars in the world. Opera Nicola Luisotti and Lorenzo Passerini conduct a production of Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera“ directed by Gianmaria Aliverta. The production stars Michael Fabiano and Ramón Vargas as Riccardo, Anna Pirozzi and Tatiana Serjan as Amelia, Artur {…}

May 20, 2020

Donizetti Opera Festival & Teatro Alla Scala Among Winners of Premio della Critica Musicale ‘Franco Abbiati’

(Credit: Gianfranco Rota) The Winners of the Premio della Critica Musicale “Franco Abbiati” have been announced. The award for best presentation of 2019 went to Mario Martone’s production of “Khovanshchina” at the Teatro alla Scala. The production was conducted by Valery Gergiev. The Special prize went to the Donizetti Opera Festival’s production of “L’Ange de Nisida” directed by Francesco Micheli. {…}

Apr 29, 2020

Eva-Maria Westbroek, Asmik Grigorian Headline OperaVision’s Russian Program in May

(Credit: Iko Freese / Operavision) OperaVision has announced that its May streaming slate will be dedicated to Russian opera. On May 1, the company will stream the Komische Oper Berlin’s production of “Eugene Onegin.” The opera stars Asmik Grigorian, Karolina Gumos, Ales Briscein, and Günter Papendell under the musical direction of Henrik Nánási. The performance will be available for repeat {…}

Apr 26, 2020

Anna Netrebko, Jonas Kaufmann, Elīna Garanča & Plácido Domingo Highlight Wiener Staatsoper’s 2020-21 Season

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced its massive 2020-21 season. Here is a rundown. Premieres Philippe Jordan conducts Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly“ in Anthony Minghella’s acclaimed production. The production from 2005 arrived in Vienna with Asmik Grigorian in the title role, Virginie Verrez, Freddie De Tommaso, and Boris Pinkhasovich. In January, Grigorian is joined by Noa Beinart and Marcelo Puente. A third {…}

Mar 12, 2020

Jonas Kaufmann, Diana Damrau & Elīna Garanča Highlight Opéra de Paris’s 2020-21 Season

The Opéra National de Paris has announced its 2020-21 season featuring a number of new productions revivals. Here is a look. Domingo Hindoyan and Keri-Lynn Wilson lead performances of Bizet’s “Carmen” with Clémentine Margaine, Elīna Garanča, and Varduhi Abrahamyan sharing the title role and Vittorio Grigolo and Charles Castronovo as Don José. Adam Plachetka and Lucas Meachem alternate as Escamillo, {…}

Jan 17, 2020

Asmik Grigorian To Star in Royal Opera House’s ‘Jenůfa’

(Credit: Ruth Waltz) The Royal Opera House is set to open a new production of Leoš Janáček‘s “Jenůfa” starting on March 24, 2020. The production, which will be directed by Claus Guth, is the third in the company’s Janáček series following productions of “Kát’a Kabanová” in 2019 and “From the House of the Dead” in 2018. Moreover, this will be {…}

Nov 13, 2019

Anna Netrebko, Cecilia Bartoli & Plácido Domingo To Headline Salzburg Festival’s 2020 Season

The Salzburg Festival has announced its 2020 season celebrating its 100th anniversary with a number of operatic productions from many repertory staples and numerous rarely performed gems. Here is a look at the operatic works to be performed. Opera Franz Welser-Möst is set to conduct a new production of R. Strauss’ “Elektra” with Krzysztof Warlikowski. Aušrine Stundyte sings the title {…}

Oct 20, 2019

Q & A: Asmik Grigorian on ‘Salome,’ a New Chapter in Her Career & Letting Go of Her Father

(Credit: Rokas Baltakys) In just a little over a year or so, Soprano Asmik Grigorian has jumped into the spotlight and remained at the forefront of the opera world. The big reason for the soprano’s rise to the forefront is her now iconic interpretation of “Salome” at the Salzburg Festival. “The Lithuanian soprano captivates the audience as much as she {…}

Oct 4, 2019

Joyce DiDonato, René Pape & Asmik Grigorian Headline Top 7 To See This Weekend Internationally (10/4-6)

It is the first weekend of October, which means that it is one filled with opening nights, new productions, contemporary works, classics, and baroque works. Let’s have a go. A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Wiener Staatsoper, Austria Lawrence Zazzo, Erin Morley, Théo Touvet, Peter Kellner, Szilvia Vörös, Josh Lovell, Rafael Fingerlos, Rachel Frenkel, Valentina, Naforniţa, Peter Rose, Benjamin Hulett, Wolfgang {…}